Re: New to group--blood tests

[Guest guest]

Hi Kasey,

Welcome to the group! I'm glad you are going to try the diet with

Denis. I'm glad you joined the group... you will find lots of

support here. I'm mom to , 8yrs. old. She's been seizure free

on the diet since Aug. 03 and was med free one month later. I hope

for a great keto experience for you, too.

1.) You will find that all keto teams have a slightly different

approach. Until recently, most teams had you test urine ketones at

least twice a day (first morning urine and evening--some prefer

before evening meal, some after, but you should be consistent.) Now

that home testing is available for blood ketone levels, many teams

have recommended that. It is more accurate and probably very helpful

if problems arise. It does involves a finger poke each time you

test. Many parents test glucose at the same time. I doubt the value

of this--unless there is a specific reason to do so--but it's

important to follow your teams suggestions. We did fine with urine

ketone measurements and no finger pokes.

2.) You keto team should ask you about any medications, toothpaste,

lotions, etc that you are currently using. They will likely have

suggestions for changes, if necessary. I don't think glycerine would

be a major problem on the diet, but I suppose it depends on how much

he takes. Glycerine does have an alcohol component, though. Again,

the dietician is the one to ask about it. If there is a pill form,

you could ask about crushing it and giving it in a very small amount

of unsweetened applesauce mixed with some cream (or just a spoonful

of cream if he will take it that way).

This week, read or re-read Dr. Freeman's book. Plan to read it again

after you start the diet. It's the best written resource about the

diet. Our dietician gave us lots of written handouts, too.

Have you tried cream, mayo and butter with Denis? You don't have to

give him much, but it will be helpful to know how he reacts to them.

If he really hates one, the dietician will be able to work his meals

around the other two. If you haven't received one yet, ask for a

list of foods to buy so that you can have a small amount at home when

you return from initiation. That way you can be prepared for a few

meals (even if it's the same meal) and not have to run to the store

immediately. Try to make his first meals from foods that he likes.

Some kids like having the same thing over and over. But, there are

many ways to add variety for kids who get bored. I've had a great

time devising keto meals. Hopefully, you will be able to do your own

meals using a computer planner. Some dieticians prefer to do the

meals themselves, which can be helpful at first. You will have much

more control if you can eventually do your own. I spent lots of time

creating meals with the dietician and then on my own while was

in the hospital.

Buy some small containers for his foods/meals. I like the

ziploc/gladware type because they aren't expensive and it's o.k. if

they get lost. Corning makes some 1c. glass dishes with lids that

are perfect for cheesecake or casseroles that you want to put in the

oven. I used a sectioned plate for serving that was smaller than

normal so it made the meals look bigger. You will probably be

surprised at how small the meals will be. Some parents use zoo pals

plates.

There's more I could say but I'm sure others will offer their

suggestions, too. Don't want you to feel overwhelmed before you

start. I have to say that I found the diet much easier than I

anticipated and that I worried much more than I needed to. So...

relax--you can do this! If you have some specific questions before

you go, please post them. If not, we will be waiting to hear how

things are going when you return.

Cammie

>

> Hello to all! I just joined the group as my Denis is set to start

the

> keto diet next week. He enters the hospital on Oct. 18th. I'm

hoping

> some of you can help me out with a few questions I have.

>

> 1) How often will I have to test for ketones? Is it only done

through

> a blood test? Will I have to prick him everyday? (Can you tell how

> freaked out I am by this idea?)

>

> 2) We currently give Denis about 4 mg of Piracetam daily which has

> helped him to vocalize more and increased his awareness. The

> Piracetam is in liquid form and contains glycerine. Will this be a

> problem for the diet or do you think we can work around it? I would

> really hate to have to stop giving it to him after it's had good

> effects on his development.

>

> Any advice for a first time keto mom would be welcome!

>

> --Kasey, mother of Denis, 2.5 years

[Guest guest]

Wow! This group is amazing. I'm so glad I found you all. We live in

Bosnia and sometimes I feel a bit cut off from all the resources I

was used to having when living in the U.S. The diet sounds

intimidating but I feel so much better knowing I will have such a

great information resource in all the group members. Thanks everyone

especially Cammie for the advice which I plan to start following

immediately. Fortunately, Denis' aunt/caretaker already uses a lot of

cream, butter and oils in the food she makes for him (typical Bosnian

diet) so I'm thinking he might accept the keto diet fairly easily.

Tonight I'm going to check and see if he likes mayonaise!

--Kasey, mother of Denis, 2.5 years

> >

> > Hello to all! I just joined the group as my Denis is set to start

> the

> > keto diet next week. He enters the hospital on Oct. 18th. I'm

> hoping

> > some of you can help me out with a few questions I have.

> >

> > 1) How often will I have to test for ketones? Is it only done

> through

> > a blood test? Will I have to prick him everyday? (Can you tell

how

> > freaked out I am by this idea?)

> >

> > 2) We currently give Denis about 4 mg of Piracetam daily which

has

> > helped him to vocalize more and increased his awareness. The

> > Piracetam is in liquid form and contains glycerine. Will this be

a

> > problem for the diet or do you think we can work around it? I

would

> > really hate to have to stop giving it to him after it's had good

> > effects on his development.

> >

> > Any advice for a first time keto mom would be welcome!

> >

> > --Kasey, mother of Denis, 2.5 years

[Guest guest]

Wow! This group is amazing. I'm so glad I found you all. We live in

Bosnia and sometimes I feel a bit cut off from all the resources I

was used to having when living in the U.S. The diet sounds

intimidating but I feel so much better knowing I will have such a

great information resource in all the group members. Thanks everyone

especially Cammie for the advice which I plan to start following

immediately. Fortunately, Denis' aunt/caretaker already uses a lot of

cream, butter and oils in the food she makes for him (typical Bosnian

diet) so I'm thinking he might accept the keto diet fairly easily.

Tonight I'm going to check and see if he likes mayonaise!

--Kasey, mother of Denis, 2.5 years

> >

> > Hello to all! I just joined the group as my Denis is set to start

> the

> > keto diet next week. He enters the hospital on Oct. 18th. I'm

> hoping

> > some of you can help me out with a few questions I have.

> >

> > 1) How often will I have to test for ketones? Is it only done

> through

> > a blood test? Will I have to prick him everyday? (Can you tell

how

> > freaked out I am by this idea?)

> >

> > 2) We currently give Denis about 4 mg of Piracetam daily which

has

> > helped him to vocalize more and increased his awareness. The

> > Piracetam is in liquid form and contains glycerine. Will this be

a

> > problem for the diet or do you think we can work around it? I

would

> > really hate to have to stop giving it to him after it's had good

> > effects on his development.

> >

> > Any advice for a first time keto mom would be welcome!

> >

> > --Kasey, mother of Denis, 2.5 years

[Guest guest]

Wow! This group is amazing. I'm so glad I found you all. We live in

Bosnia and sometimes I feel a bit cut off from all the resources I

was used to having when living in the U.S. The diet sounds

intimidating but I feel so much better knowing I will have such a

great information resource in all the group members. Thanks everyone

especially Cammie for the advice which I plan to start following

immediately. Fortunately, Denis' aunt/caretaker already uses a lot of

cream, butter and oils in the food she makes for him (typical Bosnian

diet) so I'm thinking he might accept the keto diet fairly easily.

Tonight I'm going to check and see if he likes mayonaise!

--Kasey, mother of Denis, 2.5 years

> >

> > Hello to all! I just joined the group as my Denis is set to start

> the

> > keto diet next week. He enters the hospital on Oct. 18th. I'm

> hoping

> > some of you can help me out with a few questions I have.

> >

> > 1) How often will I have to test for ketones? Is it only done

> through

> > a blood test? Will I have to prick him everyday? (Can you tell

how

> > freaked out I am by this idea?)

> >

> > 2) We currently give Denis about 4 mg of Piracetam daily which

has

> > helped him to vocalize more and increased his awareness. The

> > Piracetam is in liquid form and contains glycerine. Will this be

a

> > problem for the diet or do you think we can work around it? I

would

> > really hate to have to stop giving it to him after it's had good

> > effects on his development.

> >

> > Any advice for a first time keto mom would be welcome!

> >

> > --Kasey, mother of Denis, 2.5 years